Euro NCAP announces safest cars of 2019

Euro NCAP, the vehicle crash standards programme, has published its Best in Class for 2019.

Founded in 1996 and backed by European governments, motoring and consumer organisations, it aims to advance the safety of occupants in motor vehicle manufacturing through the use of a grading system for its New Car Assessment Program.

According to Euro NCAP, out of 55 new cars assessed last year, 41 achieved the top five-star accolade, making 2019 one of the most impressive years on record since Euro NCAP started.  

Results place the Mercedes-Benz CLA, the winner in the 2018 edition, as the best performer in the Small Family Car category, achieving more than 90% in three of the four areas of safety, and once more delivering enough to be declared best overall rating of the year.

Tesla’s Model X is a 2019 winner in the Large Off-Road category, followed by the Seat Tarraco in second place. The Tesla Model 3 also topped the Electric and Hybrid vehicle class and shared the award with BMW’s new 3 Series for top spot in the Large Family category. Though both cars ended up with identical overall scores, the BMW scored better in pedestrian protection, and the Tesla edged it in Safety Assist systems. Škoda’s new Octavia is the runner-up in this category.

Subaru’s Forester performed excellently, as did Volkswagen’s T-Cross. Mazda’s all-new CX-30 BEV also scored well as did the Mazda 3 in the adult occupant protection test, taking second place to the Mercedes-Benz CLA in the Small Family Car category.

Audi’s new A1 is neck and neck with Renault’s all-new Clio in the supermini category. The runner-up in this category is the Ford Puma, a new crossover from Ford. The supermini segment remains the most competitive in the market, as illustrated by the presence of 3, 4 and 5 star cars in the list and the winners deserve extraordinary credit for their uncompromising stance on safety.

A special mention from NCAP went out to the BMW Z4 for an “outstanding performance”. It’s the only roadster tested in 2019 which, “unquestionably has set a new safety benchmark for the segment”, said the safety rating agency.

More than 13,500 people die on SA's roads every year, and a recently announced partnership between the AA and the Global NCAP, through its #StopTheCrash campaign, wants to make stability control a standard feature in every car sold locally, thereby eliminating the sale of cars with low safety ratings.

Of the 12 SA vehicles so far crash-tested over the past three years by Global NCAP, three have achieved a four-star crash rating for adult protection, six have received three stars and one has received a single star.

Two vehicles, the Chery QQ3 and Nissan NP300 Hardbody, controversially received zero scores. Only the Renault Sandero has so far achieved a four-star crash rating for child protection.

“Electronic Stability Control can save nearly as many lives as seat belts,” said Alejandro Furas, Global NCAP technical director, at the #StopTheCrash launch in Kyalami last year.

NCAP Best in Class 2019

Large Family Car

Winners: Tesla Model 3 & BMW 3 series

Runner-up: Škoda Octavia 

Large Off-Roader

Winner: Tesla Model X

Runner-up: Seat Tarraco 

Small Family Car

Winner: Mercedes-Benz CLA

Runner-up: Mazda 3 

Small Off-Road/MPV

Winner: Subaru Forester

Runners-up: Mazda CX-30 & VW T-Cross 

Supermini

Winners: Audi A1 & Renault Clio

Runner-up: Ford Puma 

Hybrid & Electric

Winner: Tesla Model 3

Runner-up: Tesla Model X